story quilt day 5

Three days sewing at quilt camp has given me lots of sewing time dedicated to my story quilt. The crazy pieced borders are attached to center, the hoochy mama blocks are ready to sew on. I used all my green scraps to crazy piece shrubs along the fence. The brick porch banisters are almost working, all this is pinned on. I have a long way to go but so far this has been fun! I decided to have a hot air balloon fiesta to honor daughter #3 who lives in Albuquerque. The large balloon and banner will say "I love you, a bushel, a peck and a hug around the neck", the flowers in pots are my grandchildren, each in their favorite colors.
More to come, after a little time to rest!
Happy Quilting,
Colleen

Story quilt Hoochie Mama blocks

These Hoochie Mama blocks are additive!!! also made inner border all from scraps from the blocks. NO WASTE AT ALL!!! I cut a strip border from my favorite multi colored stripe to separate the border from the blocks. Tomorrow I will begin sewing blocks together and determine how many more I need to make and also what background colors I need to add. This is FUN!

Added link to Mary Lou Weidman's new blog "Mary Lou and Whimsy Too"

I follow Mary Lou Weidman and am planning my Story quilt using her inspiring books and website. She has started a new blog and asked followers to share her link. It is on top on the right side of my blog! Thanks Mary Lou for your inspiration!

Happy Father's Day - Fabric scrapbook art quilt

I finished my wall hanging from the Art Quilt class and gave it to DH for Father's Day. I was using fabric for scrapbooking. I used lots of brites to complement the glossy pics from our family photo shoot last October. The center black and white family pic is transferred to fabric. It is my focal point with the large polka dots. The glossy photos looked so good with the brites that I only transferred the one pic. I used grommets to hang with ribbon!

Story quilt

My current project is a sketch of my story quilt. No! I dont know what I am doing!!! but I usually dont! My quilts always start with a drawing of something in my head and proceed to be worked out as I go. I purchased Mary Lou Weidman's book " Out of the Box " a few months ago with the goal of making a story quilt. I decided to stop being afraid of starting so I took my sketch to my local stationary store and had my enlargements made. I have them all taped together and like the size.
 Next I will re-design the elements into more folk style whimsical shapes ( remember I have no idea if I am doing this right or not!!!) the one thing I know is I will be as decorative as possible, trying to recreate the scene from my favorite chair on my porch in my "Secret Garden".
Flowers and birds and bees etc, plus dresden flowers and pinwheels representing my sweet grandchildren. Chalk grafiti is always on the sidewalk with their names.  My favorite phrase " I love you a bushel, a peck and a hug around the neck", will also be included.
My fabrics are all stacked and waiting to make my first "Hoochie Mama" blocks. The instructions in the book look interesting. Bright colors and lots of contrast and polka dots and plaids will all go into my border blocks.
I ordered Becky Goldsmith and Linda Jenkins book "Curl Up With Quilts" because they have a cute Schnauzer pattern to include our little furry kids. I think they will be playing hide and seek in the flower beds. My dream "gate" is at the end of the sidewalk. I always wanted a scalloped gate with a heart opening, because I want to hang bells in the heart. Well I can do it in a quilt even if I can't have one for real!
My favorite hand painted sandals are black with cherries ( a tribute to Mary Lou ). My capris will be bright prints.

What's on my design wall -

Yesterday I put all the blocks and borders on Lizzy Mae's Medallion! I have chosen to add an outside border to finish. Here is a pic - I have fallen totally in LOVE with this quilt. Of course all my quilts are my favorite colors and fabrics but there is something about this one that really makes me smile every time I look at it.